Don't question intention of govt on Lokpal: Shukla

December 29, 2011 22:37 IST

Seeking Opposition support for the Lokpal Bill, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Rajiv Shukla on Friday said in the Rajya Sabha that the intention of the government should not be questioned as it has brought a strong law.

"Do not try to question our intention (on the Bill)...laws are made for 100 years," he said while intervening in the debate on the bill.

Rejecting Opposition's criticism, the minister said the proposed legislation has addressed all the concerns and it is a very strong and effective legislation.

Think of future...a balanced law has been put before you," he said, adding integrity of every person cannot be challenged "as the Lokpal will not come from Mars or some other planet."

The minister said he personally was not in favour of inclusion of the Prime Minister in the ambit the Lokpal, but Manmohan Singh himself asked for his inclusion in the anti-corruption body.

During the debate, a brief argument took between the minister and Ravi Shankar Prasad (Bharatiya Janata Party) on the issue of 2G scam. Supporting the Bill, Shobhana Bhartia (Nom) urged the government to augment the strength of the Central Bureau of Investigation and Central Vigilance Commission.